|
NORTHWICH VICTORIA FC PEN PICTURES 2008/2009
Written by Brian Edge
(5th October 2008) JONATHAN ALLAN (Forward)
Jonny Allan has played more games for Vics than any other player still on the books and he just simply loves playing for the team he joined in August 2002. The 25 year-was previously with his hometown club, Carlisle, from the age of 12 and he played in 35 Football League games for the Cumbrians. He has also had a short spell with Halifax Town. Jonny is a big favourite with the Northwich crowd because he always gives 100% and has twice won the coveted VICS’ Player of the Season award. However, Jon missed most of last season through injury and will be wanting to make up this season for last time. He has now made 189 appearances for the club scoring 67 goals in the process.
MICHAEL ASPIN (Midfield/Defender)
Former Preston North End youngster Aspin figured in most of Vics pre season games and has signed no-contract forms whilst hoping to earn a contract at the club. He is equally at home at full back or in a wide midfield position.
MAT BAILEY (Defender)
22-year-old Bailey re-joined Vics in the summer of 2008 when he signed from neighbours Crewe Alexander. Matt was with Vics for a short spell in early 2005 and figured in 4 games as a striker. Having impressed the scouts from Crewe he joined them but was soon converted into an accomplished defender and is sure to bring something extra to the Vics squad.
PAUL BARRATT (Defender)
21-year-old Paul joined Vics for the start of the season having previously been with Southport. Prior to that he was with Worcester City. He is equally a home in midfield or at full back. Paul was a member of Liverpool’s FA Youth Cup winning squad in 2006.
RYAN BROWN (Defender)
Ryan joined Port Vale on schoolboy forms and made his debut in 2003 and went on to make 18 appearances before being released. After joining Leek Town, Ryan was snapped up by Vics in 2006 and penned a new deal in the summer of 2008 to secure his future at Northwich. A left-sided player who always shows a desire to get forward he can play equally as well at full back or wing back and to date he has made 85 appearances and scored three goals
AARON BURNS (Forward)
Aaron signed for VICS in January 2008, having been with FC United of Manchester in the Unibond league. The 21-year-old started well at Northwich and quickly showed his keen eye for goal by netting on four occasions before finding himself on the bench for a period towards the end of last season. After a short loan spell at Droylsden, Aaron returned to the club and immediately looked hungry to perform well and hold on to his starting place.
JOEL BYROM (Midfield)
22-year-old Joel started his career at Blackburn Rovers after being spotted playing for local junior side Oswaldtwistle United. After starting at Ewood Park as a schoolboy, he was taken on as a trainee and graduated to the reserve side before being released in the summer of 2006. He then moved to Accrington Stanley and then Clitheroe before signing for Vics in January 2008. Joel has excellent control and possesses a cannon-like shot as well as being able to unlock the tightest of defences. MICHAEL BYRNE (Forward)
23-year-old Michael left school and joined Bolton Wanderers as an apprentice before signing professional for Stockport County in September 2003. He represented Wales at Under 17 and 19 levels before making his debut at Under 21 level in November 2002 against Azerbaijan and then in May 2007 he made his debut for the Welsh Non-League representative side. Michael signed for Vics in February 2005 and to date he has made 139 appearances and scored 20 goals.
MATT CROWELL (Midfield)
24-year-old Matty enjoyed a successful youth career with his home-town club Swansea City before joining Southampton in August 2002. Despite progressing through their youth side, appearing in many reserve team games and representing his country at various age levels he saw his path to the first team blocked at the Saints and so in 2003 he moved to Wrexham and made nearly 100 appearances for them before signing for Vics in January 2008. He made 17 appearances in midfield last season and was a key figure in the club’s successful fight against relegation. CHRIS FLYNN (Midfield) Chris is another player signed from Stafford in the summer. The 20-year-old midfielder joined Stafford in Jul7 2007 and made 40 appearances for them having previously been a trainee at Crewe and he has also had a short loan spell at Cambridge United SIMON GRAND (Defender) 24-year-old Simon signed for Vics at the end of August as Manager Maamria looked to strengthen his defence. Born in Chorley, Simon joined Rochdale as a trainee and made 49 appearances for the Lancashire side before joining Carlisle in 2004 and featured in 24 games before having spells last season with Grimsby and Morecambe MICHAEL JONES (Goalkeeper)
Michael was released by Wrexham at the end of last season and Vics’ boss, Maamria wasted no time in securing the services of the 20-year-old ‘keeper. Jones made 9 appearances for the Dragons last season
MARK KING (Defender)
Mark was with Premier League Blackburn Rovers as a trainee but moved to Accrington last season. The 20-year-old defender signed for Vics in August 2008.
PHIL MARSH (Midfield)
St Helens born Marsh joined Manchester United in 2006 and spent 16 months there making just the one first team appearance in the League Cup against Crewe in 2006 before joining Blackpool in September 2007 and then signing for Vics in September 2008.
JAMIE MULLAN (Forward)
Jamie joined Vics in mid-January after having been on a short-term deal at Rochdale. He had learnt the ropes at Manchester United before being released in the summer of 2007. He is an old fashioned type winger who loves to take opponents on and he also has the ability to deliver fine crosses for his fellow forwards. Has now made 32 appearances for Vics. MARK ROBERTS (Defender) 25 year old Mark is a local born player who arrived at his own town club in January 2007 on loan from Crewe Alexander, having previously had a loan period at Halifax Town. He quickly settled in at VICS as a central defender and made a total of 30 appearances before joining Accrington Stanley in the prior to the start of last season. After making 36 appearances at Accy Mark rejoined Vics on loan in March 2008 before signing a contract with the club in the pre-season. He has now made 50 appearances for Vics and scored three goals.
DARRYN STAMP (Forward)
30-year- old Stamp signed on loan for Vics at the beginning of March 2008 having been at Halifax. Manager Maamria needed some more experience in his squad and Darryn certainly fitted the bill having had spells with Scunthorpe, Northampton, Chester, Kidderminster, Stevenage and York. Whilst only making 6 appearances in his time with the club last season he certainly made a good impression, linking up well with Lee Steele and also scoring 3 goals before being recalled by Halifax.
It was very clear that Maamria wanted to sign Darryn and he was delighted to do so on the eve of the start of this season LEE STEELE (Forward)
34-year-old Lee spent the 1996/97 season with VICS and he scored 20 goals whilst making 44 starts and it was his fine scoring ability that tempted Shrewsbury into paying a fee of £30,000 to secure his services the following season. Lee then made 128 appearances for the Shrews and scored 38 goals before moving on a free to Brighton, after which he had spells at Oxford, Leyton Orient and Chester before rejoining VICS at the start of last season. A spell of injuries kept Lee out in the early p[art of the season but when he returned his impact was immense and it was no surprise that he won the Player of the Year award last season. To date Lee has scored 38 goals whilst making 96 appearances for Vics.
RICHIE SUTTON (Defender)
The 22-year-old full back joined Vics in the summer from Stafford – a club he captained for the last few weeks of last season. Richie is a physically strong player in defence and has a good technical awareness when venturing forward. He is another player who learnt his trade in the junior ranks at Crewe Alexandra.
SCOTT TYNAN (Goalkeeper)
Scott was brought to Northwich by Dino Maamria in October 2007 and he immediately became a favourite with the supporters as he quickly demonstrated his goalkeeping talents. Having started his career with spells at Wigan and Nottingham Forest he then had a short loan spell at Telford and then joined Barnet on a free transfer. After notching up 34 games with Barnet he was transferred to Rushden & Diamonds for £10,000 in January 2006. Happily for Vics supporters Scott signed a permanent deal with Vics in January 2008 and finished a fine personal season by making the England C team. The 25-year-old has now made 39 appearances for the greens.
MICHAEL WELCH (Defender) 26-year-old Welch was born in Crewe but started his career at Barnsley before moving to Macclesfield Town where he made 118 First team appearances and scored 5 goals. In 2005 he moved to Accrington Stanley where in 2 years he made 62 appearances and scored 4 goals. He was released at the end of the 2007 season and signed for VICS in July 2007. Prior to the arrival of new manager Dino, Michael struggled a bit to find his true form and spells of playing in midfield probably didn’t help him but very soon afterwards he started to lead by example and scored some vital goals in helping Vics beat off the threat of relegation last season. Now team captain, he has made 50 appearances and scored four goals.
DANNY WILLIAMS (Midfield)
Danny was brought to the club in October 2007 by Dino Maamria and made an instant impression on the supporters with his all round ability and willingness to work. Had Danny not suffered a couple of niggling injuries then he would certainly have started more games than the 20 he did start last season and therefore will be hoping for better luck this season. He had previously been with Forest Green and Rushden and Diamonds.
MANAGER: Dino Maamria
Dino is an experienced well-travelled footballer who has enjoyed spells in the Conference with a number of clubs including Southport, Stevenage, Doncaster and Rushden and Diamonds. He joined Vics as a player prior to the start of the 2007/08 season but then became caretaker manager and eventually earned the manager’s position after brilliantly masterminding Vics’ unbelievable avoidance of relegation last season - a feat justifiably winning him the NLP Manager of the Season Award.
MIKE MARSH (Assistant Manager)
Assistant Manager to Dino is Liverpool legend Mike Marsh who played approximately 100 competitive games for the Merseysiders before signing for West Ham United in 1993 and then Coventry and Galatasaray before spending time with a number of non-league clubs including Kidderminster, Southport and Boston.
|
